Today I had lunch in a Thai restaurant in Pittsburgh’s Shadyside neighborhood. While eating I was enthralled with a book about Croatia. Some places need to go through a little time to get clear. With Croatia’s struggles after the fall of Yugoslavia I need to try to figure out all the players and events. I found that most Americans today really have little knowledge about this time period. Fortunately for me one Brit did a great job with explanations, Croatia: A Nation Forged in War by Marcus Tanner was a fascinating read. It traces Croatia’s history through the war ended in the early 1990’s. It helped explain a lot to me even if my piece will be about traveling through the country. Sometimes I like to write about a past trip while exploring something new. I wonder where I will be when I start on Pittsburgh?